Image via Barossa.com
Our author today, Cherie Hausler, wears many hats including tea blender, animal hugger, food writer, food stylist, recipe developer and founder of the vegan range All The Things. Cherie is an avid traveller too, but she’ll always call the Barossa Valley in South Australia home. We could not think of a better person to guide us around the world-renowned wine region than this creative local who lives with her husband, Damian, in their renovated farmhouse ‘on the hill.’ Make your Barossa weekend away magic by following Cherie’s suggestions below.
Image via Milk + Honey House Facebook
Friday 5pm Check in to Milk and Honey House
Staying at Milk and Honey House will set you up in a beautiful part of the Barossa, centrally located but with that quintessential village feel of the country. There’s nothing twee about this place though, not a doily in sight! It’s all about warmth and character, but without feeling like you’re in an episode of Little House on the Prairie. It’s modern farmhouse chic if there’s such a thing!
Friday 7PM sunset drinks and dinner at Hently Farm
Hently Farm is as gobsmackingly gorgeous as the art they put on plates for your dinner. I always bring friends to this restaurant and cellar door when they are visiting from out of town because it has that quintessential Barossa look and feel to really let you know you’ve landed in the Valley. And (cheeky aside) they have very good teas!
Sat 8am Barossa Farmer’s Market
This is not only the place to load up on all that you’ll need for your bike riding picnic later today, but it’s the place to meet the locals who have handmade all that you’ll choose from. Grab breakfast when you first arrive and then wander through the stalls of local fare, dropping in to conversations with producers as you go and all the while filling your basket with what the Barossa is famous for.
Sat 11am Bike Riding and Spontaneous Lunch
Organise to hire a couple of bikes from Barossa Bike Hire (they can deliver to your accommodation if you’d rather) and pack your bounty from the Farmer’s Market to take with you for lunch en route. There are mapped out tours available from Barossa Bike Hire, or you can simply jump on to the bike track and see where it takes you.
Organic, raw lemon, blueberry and pistachio tart with cardamom crust baked by Cherie Hausler
Sat 2pm Cold pressed juice and smoothies at Pulp & Thread
There’ll be plenty of time to retox, so a detox before proceedings is always a good idea – plus, you’re going to need to quench your thirst after all that bike riding. I love this little shop because they have so many amazing superfood-loaded juices and smoothies to choose from. And if you need a little wearable souvenir from the Barossa, then you can also browse through the small but selective range of clothing curated by owner Nat Siegele’s good taste.
Image via Yelland & Papps Facebook
Sat 3pm Yelland & Papps wine tasting
I grew up not far from this property and it seriously feels like coming home for me. So I recommend it to everyone because it seems to have that same effect on whomever I take here, regardless of where they’re from. It’s the best kind of feel-good, gorgeous space with that ‘hidden gem’ aspect to it. The wines are of course fantastic, but don’t be surprised to be equally enamored of the cellar door and surrounding gardens. You can sneak a little tasting plate in here before dinner too, Susan does an amazing job of putting local fare together to match with their wines. You can even take home a bag of freshly harvested lentils from Susan’s family farm on the Yorke Peninsula. I just love everything about this place and I’m pretty sure you will too!
Sat 6pm Sunset drinks, wine tasting and dinner at Seppeltsfield Barossa
Book in to Fino for dinner. This restaurant is another one that’s always on my list as a way for me to share the Barossa with any friends who visit, and there are many reasons for that. But the biggest is that it manages to be the perfect balance of country hospitality and modern cuisine. Lots of local produce on the menu, house-made sourdough and great wine, all with the feeling that – even if it’s your first visit – you’re a well-loved regular.
Sun 9am Hike through Kaiser Stuhl
Walk through Kaiser Stuhl National Park. Not everyone knows about this aspect of the Barossa, but it’s one of the best ways to re-calibrate your headspace if you haven’t been up-close with nature for a while. There are stunning vistas to take in, all among completely natural bushland, complete with wildlife ambling around you. Wander around for a couple of hours and set your appetite up for the day – this is the Barossa, you’ll be eating non-stop again today!
Sun 11am Breakfast at Darlings Cafe (Tanunda)
Get your coffee fix and a lovely little something to fill your belly while you watch the parade of local dogs wander past on their Sunday morning walk. Grab a table outside if the weather’s on your side so you can be in the hot seat to scratch a few ears of the ones waiting for their humans to pick up takeaway coffee. Of course you don’t have to love dogs to come here for breakfast, but, really, who doesn’t love dogs? That would just be weird.
Sun 12 noon Alabaster
You’ll likely sit at Darlings sipping your coffee, saying to yourself, “I’m going in there” when we’ve finished breakfast as you glance across the street at this beautiful shop. It has so many really lovely things, and not just for girls but for guys too. Lots of locally made beauty meets small batch labels from around Australia and beyond, I’d be really surprised if you couldn’t find something to fall in love with. Or six things.
Sun 1pm Wine tasting at Tscharke’s
Head to Marananga en route to dinner at Appellation, but leave yourself time to call in to Tscharke Wines across the road, to taste some of their delicious estate grown and crafted wines. Of course there are so, so many wine labels to choose from in the Barossa, but I just love Eva and Damien’s approach to wine-making, and life in general really. Know that you’ll take so much more than amazing wine away with you after your visit.
Sun 6:30pm Dinner at Appellation
I don’t want to declare I’ve saved the best for last, but you know it’s true! Simply put, Appellation is a very special place to experience the very best of the Barossa and if there’s any way you can work your weekend around a meal here – do it. 85% of Appellation’s menu comes from the Barossa and South Australia, so especially if you’re visiting from interstate, I know this will be an experience you won’t forget because it’s in no way easily replicated. Again, it’s that balance of incredibly high-end service, stunning food and wine, but with the feeling that nothing is too much trouble and there’s every reason to settle in for the afternoon, open another bottle of wine and chat to the team that have given this restaurant its impeccable reputation.
Ms Zigzag says: Thank you so much to Cherie for these exceptional Barossa travel tips. I think any couple visiting this region will have a truly romantic weekend away following your expert advice.
About the author Cherie Hausler – plant eater, tea blender, cake baker, farmhouse renovator, animal hugger. And creator of new vegan range, All The Things.
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